Rationale for Hardness of Hearts

"Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do."

There is toughness in hearts today and softness has been faded away, people are heartless and show theophobia, they express severe anger, there are many people who cross every limits in their hatred for other people. But still there are some who became aggrieve when they found someone in misery and they became desperate to help them. These are the people who sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others. However, Allah has described different variations in human hearts in this verse. Religious scholars have defined three types of heart in the light of Quranic verses:

1. Qalb-e-Saleem:

The heart that is obedient and transparent. In Surah Ash-Shu`araa’, Allah says:

"The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart."

Anyway, the sound heart is that which is pure and accurate. It is also free from participation of any worshipper other than Allah in any aspect. His servitude is only for Allah and his every action purely corresponds to Allah, thus he loves anyone only and only for Allah.

2. Dead Heart:

Contrary to Qalb-e-Saleem, dead heart is the heart which neither recognizes nor obeys Allah. It always follow his own lust and desires. Therefore he loves or hates someone according to his own ego (nafs), he also gives or takes for his own ego. In short nafs is his imam, lust is his leader, ignorance is his guide and negligence is his ride. We should seek refuge of Allah from this kind of heart.

3. Ailing Heart:

It is that heart which consists of life as well as sickness; means life and disease are two main substitutes of this heart. These two substances attract him equally and heart follows the dominating matter. Living part of this heart constitutes love for Allah, sincerity for Allah and reliance on Allah. It also has desires following, hypocrisy, jealousy, arrogance, unlawful warfare and miserliness which became causes for his death and destruction. We should also take refugee to Allah from this kind of heart.

In Holy Quran there is cure for all kind of heart problems. Thus in Surah Yunus, Allah says:

"O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers."

Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: "Look! Heart also gets rusted like iron". Companions (R.A) asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what is a way to remove the rust of the heart?" He says: "remember death and recite Quran frequently".

Hazrat Anas (R.A) reported that four things are cause of curse and squat: not flowing tears from eyes due to fear of God, hardening of hearts, rise of expectations, become greedy.

May Allah help us to act upon His orders. Ameen.

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